For the 5th stage of our 15-day tour in Scotland , we leave from Insch heading towards the whisky distilleries of Speyside and Elgin.
Itinerary of 5rd day from Speyside to Elgin
- incl
- Glenfiddish Distillery in Dufftown
- The Glenlivet Distillery
- Spynie Palace
- Elgin Cathedral
- Elgin
Scotland in 15 days - Glenfiddich Distillery
Goodbye Scottish castles , hello to discovering the famous Scotch whiskies ! An early start to arrive just in time for tours at the renowned Glenfiddich whisky distillery near Dufftown . After a little over an hour's drive, we arrive to find a vast facility that reminds us this isn't a small, family-run distillery… Indeed, we learn that Scotland's most famous distillery is also the world's leading distillery in terms of revenue. We're greeted in a very organized manner, and the fairly comprehensive tour concludes with a free tasting with the guide and the obligatory visit to the shop. It's one of the best-selling Scotch whiskies worldwide, a single malt aged in oak casks.
Scotland in 15 days - The Glenlivet Distillery
Personally, I don't like whisky , but our friends and my husband really appreciate it, or rather, appreciate them… Unfortunately for them, it wasn't possible to visit all 48 distilleries in the Speyside region ! We had to make a choice. So we decided to visit the largest ones first to fully understand the process and taste the most famous whiskies. Then we'll continue later with smaller, family-run distilleries . That way, we'll get an overview and be able to compare…
The Glenlivet is the Scottish whisky distillery that sells the most single malt in the USA and the 2nd in the world.
Same tour principle as for the Glenfiddich whisky distillery : tour of about 1 hour with detailed and interesting explanations and free tastings (included in the price of the tour) in the shop.
Scotland in 15 days - Spynie Palace
After a morning spent with my nose in whisky (and I'm not a fan), it was with great pleasure that we arrived near Elgin at a very interesting site. Spynie Palace is an episcopal palace founded in the 12th century that served as the residence of the bishops of Moray.
Scotland in 15 days - Elgin Cathedral
A surprising yet magnificent site! Surprising because only ruins remain, and magnificent because these stone remains stand out beautifully against the green lawn. Built in 1270, Elgin Cathedral was one of the most beautiful in Scotland.
Cheap hotel in Elgin
Just two minutes from the Cathedral and the main street, you'll find Elgin Guest House . At €65 per room, including breakfast, it was a great place to stay, offering the best of both worlds: being in the heart of the city in a relaxed, family atmosphere. A grocery store across the street allowed us to quickly prepare a meal and save on dinner costs. The traditional Scottish breakfast was very filling!
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